Lubrication of power hammers



March 31, 1959 J. J. KUPKA 2,879,864

. LUBRICATION OF POWER HAMMERS Filed July 28, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Joy/v J Kwm MK ATTORNEY March 31, 1959 J. J. KUPKA 2,879,864

'LUBRICATION OF POWER HAMMERS Filed July 28, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FETAL-f INVENTOR.

- JOHN J Az/ /m BY I ATTO/QA/E 'LUBRICATION OF POWER .HAll/IMERS John J. Kupka, Gladstone, N.J., assignor to McKiernan- Application July 28, 1958, Serial No. 751,506

Claims. (Cl. 184-7) The invention herein disclosed relates to 'the lubrication of steam and compressed air operated power hammer'sand machines of like character.

Because of their bulk and weight and the factthat they are subjected to all kinds of Weather conditions these machines present special lubricating problems.

Given proper attention these machines require Warming up and a coating of the extensive bearing areas of the heavy ram and cylinder with lubricant before attempting to start.

Accordingly it has become accepted practice to inject a certain amount of oil into the steam 'line leading to the machine under pressure reduced to coat the hearing surfaces with a 'film of oil without actuallystarting the machine and then to apply pressure sufficient to start after a preliminary warming up period, .as disclosed in copending patent application Serial No. 644,829 filed March 8, 1957, now Patent 412,865,468, dated December .23, 11958.

In this manner the oil conveyed to the hammer is heated by the steam or compressed air and conditioned and made available to the hammer as soon ash is ready to start.

It has been found that under heavy, extended service a gradual deterioration takes place in the hose leading to the hammer, creating a polymerization product'of oil and rubber decomposition, destroying lubrication and in some cases actually stopping the hammer.

- Objects of the present invention are to overcome these diificulties and to provide constant, lasting lubrication of such power hammers and like machines.

Briefly the invention is based on the realization that a superior, high quality steam hose will last indefinitely ifthere is no oil in it and the use of this how to carry a separate oil feed hose, thus to impart the desired warmth to the oil, and the maintaining of the delivery of oil to the hammer separate from and prevented from getting into the steam hose.

The novel featuresof construction through which the above and related objects are attained are set forth and will appear in the course of the following specification. I The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification are illustrative of present practical commercial embodiments of the invention. Structure however may be modified and changed as regards the immediate illustration all within the true intent and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a broken front elevation of a power hammer having this improved lubrication system applied thereto.

"Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the hammer equipped with the special oil atomizing .nozzle and roil retention trap of this invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged and broken sectional detail of the nozzle and trap construction.

Fig. 4 is a broken sectional view of the differential pressure lubricator used-for feeding the oil to the ma- Chine.

States atent Patented Mar. 1959 In Fig. 1 a powerhammer of-approveddesign'is illus- :trated at 7 having a steam supply 'line extended there to, including piping 8 terminating in a length offiexible armored hose 9 directly connected with the hammer. This steam hose is of approved composition designed to last practically indefinitely, with clean steam free of oil.

The lubricator indicated at '10 is "like that .disclosediin the copending patent application identified comprising an upright cylinder 11 mounted onand connected with the steam line 'by a T fitting 12 and containing an .verted skirted piston .13 cooperating with a dependent fixed piston wall .14 to form an :o'il containing press ure chamber 15, delivering oil .from the top thereof through a feed line 16.

From Fig. 4 it will 'be observed that with steam ad mitted to supply "line 8 the piston '13 will .be raised v to put pressure on the oil in chamber .15 and force .the same out through .line .16 under-control of valve 17 and visible at gage glass 18.

A bowed spring 19 on the bottom of the movable piston serves as a shock damper to preventhammer of the piston on the bottom of the cylinder and to bias the piston into upward movement off the bottom of the cylinder.

The oil feed .line is shown continued from the gage glass .as a hose 20, carried by the steam hose .9 :and flexible like that hose to yield and bend as need be :in the operation and handling of thehammer.

This oil feed .hose is of *speciahcomposition to .carry the lubricating oil required for operation of the hammer, hot as well as cold, without deterioration. Hence the oil feed hose separate and kept apart from the steam will serve practically indefinitely for .its purpose. V

The oil hose may be carried by the steam hose in different ways. In the illustration it is shown wrapped or coiled about the steam hose and secured thereto by clamping bands or tapes 21. With such construction the oil hose is supported by the .steam 'hose and heated .to impart heat to the oil flowing through the same. The coiling of the oil hose about thesteam hose is of "advantage in providing maximum heat conduction to the oil.

At the hammer end the oil hose 20 is connected by an angle fitting .22 with an injector tube 23, Figs. 2 and 3, extending up into the steam chest 24 of the hammer alongside the steam inlet nozzle 25. The nozzle beveled at 26 toward the oil inlet to atomize and blow entering oil away from the steam inlet in admixture with the steam.

The steam nozzle and oil injection tube23 are shown as surrounded by an annular well .or cavity 27 forming a collector for any excess oil and serving to keep any such oil away from the steam .inlet.

By this construction any excess or drainage oil is kept away and prevented from draining back into the steam'line. Thus the steam hose .is protected and guarded against any contaminating .or deteriorating infiuence of oil. At the'same time the 'oil feed line is kept,

away from and clear of :steam. Thus both steam and oil linescan boot the highest eflectivematerials.fortheir individual purposes.

Because of the necessary length, usually one hundred feet or more, the steam hose is anexpensive -part-of the power hammer equipment. The need for heating the -oil to overcome congealing tendencies and the requirement for pressure to lift the oil through one hundred feet or v more practically require that a differential pressure lubricator be employed, operated by the steam supplied to the v I "newness I the hammer is shutdown, without any attention on the part of the operatorpower hammers presently in use.

I It is contempl'atedthat the oil feed line may be located inside instead? vof outsidethe steam hose, with suitable differential pressure men. I

for lubricating 3. The inventionaccording to claim. 1' with meansat said hammer for preventing entry of oil into said steamhose, including: an'oil injector tube, and a steam inlet nozzle arranged to blow oilentering bysaid injector tube I away from said steam nozzle.

. 4. The invention according to claim 1 with means at said hammer for preventingentry of. oil into, said steam hose, including an oil injector tube and a steam inlet a nozzle arranged to blow oil'entering by said injector tube away from said steam nozzle and a well about, said in ,jector. tube and steam nozzle for holding and trapping excess oil. v I

5. The invention said hammer for preventing entry of oil into said steam connections at the lubricator and hammer ends; of th hose, including an 'oil injector tube'at the end of said oil same and that other changes may be made all within the scope of the invention. The differential 'lnbricator struc- "ture also may be varied to suit different: requirements. I

In the illustration the lubricator is shown in Fig. 1

"as having an opening '28 at the top of the cylindrical shell of the samefor oilto,lubricatetheskirted piston'and 1 as havingan opening 29 below that for escape of actuata Wingfstearn or air'to'indicate that the piston is at the top of its stroke, calling torreplenishment of;oil.. Fig. 4 shows how a'whistle 30 may be connected with hose, including'an inlet-nozzle at the endof the steam hose and an oil collectingtrap about said nozzle. v

I 6. Theinvention according to claim 1 with means at said hammer for preventingenery of oil into said steam,

feed hose and an' inlet nozzle at the end of said steam I I hose inclined toward said ,oil injector tube.

the escape port 29 togive a low oil'level signal indication. y

tra'ted asia metering valve by which'the how of oil can be regulated,;with-ihand wheel 31v indicating the exact 7.The invention accordingto claim 1 with means'at 1 said hammer for preventing entry of oil into said steamhose, including an oil injector tube at the endof said oil feed hose and an inlet. nozzle at the end of said: steam v hose inclined toward said oil injector tube and an oil.

trap well about said. injector tube and nozzle.

8. Lubricating. system: for, a power hammer separate from said steam hose and of a materialresistant 1 to oil but less resistant to steam, said oil feed hose being,

amountof oilbeing fed. This'is importantwhere there I is a-long line of hose leading upward andwhere the gauge glass will be'filled with oil and thereforeunable to indi eate bydrip the amountofoil being passed to the hamsteam or compressed air, is usually known as a steam hose so the expression has been used in that sense in this specification.

While the steam and oil are shown entering at the bottom of the surge chamber 24 it is contemplated that either 'or both may be entered above this point, as in the side or top of the surge chamber and that other changes may be made, coming within the scope and intent of the invention.

' What is claimed is:

- 1. Automatic preheating lubricating system for a power hammer having a power supply line terminating in'a flexible steam hose connected to the hammer and comprising an automatic differential pressure lubricator connected in pressure and heat receptive relation with said supply line to be thereby actuated and heated from said supply line, 'said steam hose being resistant to heat and steam but less resistant to oil, and a flexible oil feed hose extending from said lubricator and connected to said hammer, separate from said steam hose and of ma terial resistant to oil and heat but less resistant to steam, said oil feed hose being carried by and in heat receptive relation to said steam hose, all whereby oil preheated for lubrication will be automatically supplied to the hammer when steam is turned on, without contaminating thesteam hose with oil or subjecting the oil feed hose to steam.

- 2. The invention according to claim 1 with means at said hammer for preventing entry of oil into said steam hose.

coextensive'w'ith and carried by said steam hose in heat receptive relationtherewith, said stearnhose and oil feed hose terminating insteam and oil delivery nozzlesex tending into'said hammer in adjacent but separated relation spaced to prevent'entryof oil from the oil feed hose into the steam hose.- i I 9. Lubricating system for a power hammer having a i flexible steam hose, said hose being resistant to heat and steam but less resistant to oil, and a flexible oil feed hose separate from said steam hose and of a material rcsistant to oil but less resistant to steam, said oil feed hose being coextensive with and carried by said steam hose in heat receptive relation therewith, said steam hose and oil feed hose terminating in steam and oil delivery nozzles extending into said hammer in adjacent but separated relation spaced to prevent entry of oil from the oil feed hose into the steam hose and an oil collecting trap about said nozzles.

10. Lubricating system for a power hammer supplied by a flexible steam hose and comprising the combination of a flexible steam hose, a pressure feed lubricator, a

flexible oil feed hose extending from said lubricator coextensive with and separate from but carried by said flexible steam hose and in heat receptive relation with said' steam hose to thereby heat the oil in passage to the hammer, and said steam hose and oil feed hose terminating in steam and oil delivery nozzles extending into said hammer in adjacent but separated relation spaced to avoid oil from the oil delivery nozzle entering the steam clelivery nozzle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 672,415 Dodge Apr.'l6, 1901 1,164,075 Dean Dec. 14, 1915 1,917,066 Schalscha July 4, 1933 2,324,707

Johnson July 20, 1943- according toclaim 1 with ,meansat having a' I flexible steam hose, said hose being resistant to heat and: steam but less'resistant to oil, and a flexible :oil feed hose 

